Chiropractic table with adjustable auxiliary table section



G. L. ROC K July 3, 1956 CHIROPRACTIC TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY TABLE Filed July 9, 1955 I IIIII IIHIH IN V EN TOR. yaZTC/ZQ 620 BY %w//Z;ZJ

(5. L. ROCK Fully 3, E956 CHIROPRACTIC TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY TABLE] SECTION 3 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed July 9, 1953 G. L. ROCK Jully 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 9, 1955 H I vfi wm wrlwmw lllll ICllLi @IL Mmw r 1 mi INVENTOR. Z Z.%Ck

CHIROPRACTIC TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY TABLE SECTION George I... Rock, Jonesville, Mich. Application July 9, 1953, Serial No. 366,949

Claims. (Cl. 311-7) The present invention relates to a novel table structure, and more particularly to a novel chiropractic table structure.

Chiropractic tables usually include two or more top sections of various forms which are adjustable vertically relative to each other and which also may be tilted in order to conform to the bodies of various patients and to position a patient properly for a given treatment. Various means have been provided for adjusting the table sections, but such prior art means have in general been relatively complicated and expensive or rather cumbersome in operation to the annoyance of both the doctor and the patient. In addition, many of the prior art devices have relatively large projecting levers or handles which often interfere with the doctor when he is treating a patient.

it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages of prior art structures by providing a novel chiropractic table structure, wherein adjustable sections thereof may be moved easily and quickly to the desired position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a chiropractic table, wherein means for adjustably supporting sections thereof is simple and compact, thus avoiding interference with the doctor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel chiropractic table, wherein the position of an adjustable section thereof may be changed quickly and accurately even small degrees in order to obtain the desired results.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel table structure of the above described type with interchangeable head-rests which may be quickly and easily detachably secured to the table.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, showing a novel table structure embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the table structure of this invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view partially broken away and illustrating the novel features of this invention in greater detail;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 77 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an element of this invention; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view, showing a novel element of this invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals through- States Patent 0 2,753,233 Patented July 3, 1956 out the various figures, a chiropractic table 10 embodying the principles of this invention is shown best in Figs. 1 through 4. The table 10 includes a main top section or platform 12 and a second top section or auxiliary supporting table 14 which is adapted to be adjusted horizontally and vertically relative to the top section 12 and/or tilted in the manner fully described hereinbelow. The top section 12 is supported on a suitable frame including spaced longitudinal members 16 and 18 and transverse members 20, 22, and 24. At the foot end of the table, the frame is supported by a pair of legs 26 and 28 secured to the opposite sides thereof. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the table ltl is designed for use as a side posture table, and, therefore, the width of the head end of the table top section 12 is narrowed, as at St). The head end of the table top section 12 is supported by a single centrally located pedestal 32 having a broad transversely extending foot: 34a. With this structure, the table is given good stability, and at the same time, the pedestal 32 is positioned to avoid substantially all possibility of interfering with a doctor standing at the head end of the table for treating a patient.

The table top section 14, which is used to support adjustably the head of a patient, is mounted to the table frame by means shown best in Figs. 5 and 6. This means constitutes an auxiliary frame means and includes a cantilever bar 34 slidably disposed within a sleeve 36 on the table frame and extending longitudinally outwardly from the head end of the top section 12. The sleeve 36 is received in suitable notches in the bottoms of the transverse frame members 22 and 24 and is retained therein by cross plates 38 and 40, which plates are secured to the frame by bolts 42 and 44. As shown in Fig. 6, inner end portions of opposite sides of the sleeve 36 are formed into laterally extending flanges 46 and 48 so that the sleeve may be retained against longitudinal movement by bolt means 50 and 52 extending through the transverse frame member 22 and the flanges 46 and 48, respectively. A metal plate 54 extends across the sleeve and is disposed between the flanges 46 and 48 for a purpose described below.

In order to adjust the cantilever bar 34 longitudinally so as to effect horizontal adjustment of the head-rest top section 14, a rack member 56 is disposed in an elongated slot 58 in the bar and is adapted to mesh with a pinion 6t rotatably mounted on the sleeve 36. The pinion is carried between a pair of bracket members 62 and 64 welded or otherwise secured to the sleeve 36 and may be operated from either side of the table by han dles 66 and 68 which are secured to the pinion shaft 70. In order to prevent the cantilever bar from becoming accidentally disassembled from the sleeve 36, an elongated rod 72 having an enlarged head 74 is threaded into the inner end of the bar, as at 76. The shank of the rod 72 passes through an aperture in the above mentioned cross plate 54 so that as the bar is advanced toward its outer limit of movement, the enlarged head 74 engages the cross plate, thereby prohibiting further movement.

As shown best in Figs. 3 and 6, the support pedestal 32 is preferably formed from a metal tube to provide sutficient strength and rigidity. The upper end of the tube is provided with a bifurcated portion having legs 78 and 80, which legs enclose opposite sides of the sleeve 36 and are welded or brazed thereto, as at 82 and 84, respectively.

As shown best in Fig. 9, the cantilever bar 34, which is preferably formed from a solid piece of lightweight metal, such as aluminum, is provided with a pair of spaced sleeve portions 86 and 88. These sleeve portions are adapted to receive fluid cylinders of adjustable top section 14 supporting means described below. In order to adjust these sleeve portions to clamp the fluid cylinders securely,

- closed position. I disposed within an enlarged cavity in the upper end of the 3 the bar 34 is slit, as at 90 and 92, and is provided with apertures having threaded portions 94 and 96 for receiving tightening screws 98 and 100.

The means for adjustably supporting the table top section'14 on the cantilever bar includes a pair of identical fluid cylinders 102 and 104 which are mounted in the sleeve portions 86 and'88, respectively. A piston 106 is slidably disposed within the cylinder 102 and includes a gasket 108 of leather or any other suitable material. Preferably, the gasket 108' has a depending annular por- .tion 110 slidably engaging the internal wall of the cylinder. The piston 106' is mounted on a rod 112 which extends above the upper end of the cylinder 102 for connection with the table top section 14. The cylinder 102 isj'closed. at its. upper end by a cap member 114 secured to an enlarged portion 116 of the cylinder by suitable stud means 118. The cover plate 114 is provided with a centrally located bearing sleeve 120 for receiving and guiding 'the piston rod" 112.

.Thepiston rod112 is connected with the top plate section v14 so that upon movement of the piston, the plate section may be adjusted to any desired vertical position. It is often desirable to tilt the top section 14 relative to the horizontal, and, therefore, means is provided for pivotally connecting the top section with the piston rod.

This means includes a cross bar 122 which is rigidly secured to the piston rod by any suitable device, such as welding. The top section 14 is provided adjacent opposite sides thereof with depending webs 124 and 126 which enclose the cross bar 122. The opposite ends of the cross bar122 are pivotally connected to these webs by suitable pins 128 and 130 extending through aligned apertures in the webs and in the cross bar. The cylinder '104'contains a piston structure which is substantially identical to the piston structure of the cylinder 102 and, therefore, need not be described in detail. The piston structure of the cylinder 104 includes a piston rod 132 (see Fig. 6) which is also pivotally connected to the table top section 14. This pivotal connection is provided 'bya cross bar 134 which is identical to the cross bar 122 and pivot pins 136 and 138. The pivot pins 136 and topermit tilting movement of the top section. This structure, is shown in detail in Fig. 7, wherein the pivot pin 136 is' illustrated as connected to a slide block 140 disposed within a groove 142 in the top section 14. The pivotpin 138 is similarly connected with a slide block 144 slidably mounted in a groove in the top section.

Withthis structure, it is seen that by adjusting the pistons -in 'thecylinders 102 and 104, the top section 14 may be 'moved to anydesired height, and by individually adjusting the pistons, the top section may be tilted.

The means for adjusting and retaining the pistons of both cylinders 1102 and 104 is substantially identical,

and only'the means for adjusting the piston 106 will be described in detail. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the piston rod 112 has an enlarged cavity 146 at its lower end opening to the bottom side of the piston.

The piston is provided with bores 148 and 150 communithe valve stem an is acted upon by a compression spring 160, whereby the valve 152 is normally biased to its As shown in Fig. 5, the spring 160 is piston rod and acts between a bottom shoulder 162 of the: cavityand. the head member158.

138 are slidably mounted on the top section 14 in order a face of the top section 14.

1 cylinder 102, which is closed, is, of course, filled with a suitable hydraulic fluid. In order to raise the piston 106, it is merely necessary to pull upwardly on the table top section so that the piston tends to compress the fluid in the upper portion of the cylinder. When suflicient pressure has been built up, thevalve 152 opens against the action of the spring and atmospheric pressure, thereby causing fluid to flow into the lower end of vthe cylinder as the piston is raised. When the table top section has been lifted the desired amount, it is released, and the valve 152 again closes, thereby trapping the fluid in the lower end of the cylinder. The hydraulic fluid in the lower end of the cylinder being incompressible, thus supports the piston and table top section in the desired elevated position.

When it is desired to lower the top section, it is merely necessary to depress the valve stem 154 to open the valve 152 so that fluid can return to the upper end of the cylinder,-Whereby the top section under the force of its own weight drops to a lower position. The valve stem may beconveniently depressed by an eccentric cam por tion 164 of an actuating rod 166 rotatably mounted on the top section 14. The outer end of the actuating rod 166 terminates in a handle portion 168 to facilitate operation thereof. It is understood that the piston of the cylinder 104 has a similar valve structure with an enlarged head member 170 (see Fig. 6) secured to the upper end of the valve stem. In order to operate the valve of the piston in cylinder 104, another actuating rod 172 having a cam portion 174 and handle portion 176 is-provided. The cam portion 174 is, of course, positionedfor engagement with the enlarged head 170. It is, thus, seen that the pistons in the cylinders may be adjusted independently of each other so that the table top section 14 may be tilted any desired degree and that the manually engageable ends 168, 176 of the rods are disposed adjacent an edge of the auxiliary table for ready access thereto.

In chiropractic tables, it is often desirable to employ head-rest members of various types and shapes. In order that such'head-rests may bequickly and easily interchanged, they may be secured to a cover plate 178 which is adapted to overlie the table top section 14. A plurality of pins having enlarged heads 180 and shanks 182 of reduced diameter depend from the cover plate 178 and are adapted to be inserted into suitable slots in the top section 14. These slots have an enlarged end 184 adapted to receive the enlarged head 180 of the pin and a relatively narrow portion 186 adapted to receive the shank portion 182 .of the pin. Preferably, as in the illustrated embodiment, cooperating pins and slots are provided adjacent the four corners of-the cover plate 178 and the top tion 14 merely by inserting pins through the enlarged portions of the slots and then shifting the cover plate so that the shanks of the pins enter the narrow portions of the slots and the enlarged heads engage the under sur- In order to prevent inadvertent disassembly of the cover plate, a-locking member 188, shown best in Figs. 6 and 8, is provided for preventing movement of the pins into the enlarged portions 184 of the slots. The lockingmember 188 is pivotally mounted to the under side of the table top section by a suitable rivet 190 and includes an abutment portion 192 adapted to close the enlarged-portion 184 of a slot against re-entry of its associated pin. The locking member 188 'needonly be'provided for restraining oneof the pins since if one pin is locked in position, all of the pins will be locked. *Preferably, the locking member 188 is yieldably biased to its locking position by any suitable spring --means,-suchas the tensionspring 194, which is connected between the locking member and thetop section 14. In order to-provide' for easy operation of the locking member: to release the-pinsadepending flange 196 is provided which may be readily grasped by the doctor.

From the above description, it is seen that the present invention has provided a novel chiropractic table structure, wherein a movable section thereof may be quickly and easily adjusted to any desired vertical position or tilted to any desired degree. Furthermore, it is seen that: the novel structure including the single pedestal, the cantilever har, and the fluid cylinders is simple and compact and without large protruding members which might interfere with the movements of a doctor. In addition it should be noted that the novel cantilever bar and associated elements provide novel means whereby horizontal movement of the head-rest supporting means is possible. This horizontal adjustment enables the doctor to adjust easily the patients head to precise position on the headrest without resorting to a shifting of the patients body.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is obvious that the principles of this invention might be applied to chiropractic tables other than side posture tables or to other tables used to support a patient such as operating tables and that various details of the disclosed structure might be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A chiropractic table comprising a main supporting frame, a body supporting platform mounted on said frame, an auxiliary frame projecting substantially horizontally outwardly from said main frame and disposed below said platform, means for mounting said auxiliary frame on said main frame, an auxiliary supporting table adjacent said platform, adjusting means for the auxiliary table and comprising hydraulic cylinder, piston and included valve means mounted on the outwardly projecting end of said auxiliary frame; means mounting said auxiliary table on said piston means for adjustable movement therewith, and means connected to said valve means for operating the same to control movement of said piston means and resultant adjustment of said auxiliary table.

2. A chiropractic table as claimed in claim 1, wherein the table adjusting means comprises a pair of cylinder, piston and included valve means, and wherein the auxiliary table is pivotally connected to each piston means whereby to permit tilting of the auxiliary table.

3. A chiropractic table as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for operating said valve means includes a pair of actuating rods having the manually engageable ends thereof disposed adjacent an edge of the auxiliary table for ready access thereto.

4. A chiropractic table as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary frame is in the form of a cantilever beam, and wherein the means for mounting the beam on the main frame comprises a telescoping connection and operating means for shifting the beam horizontally with respect to said main frame.

5. A chiropractic table as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for operating the valve means is disposed adjacent an edge of the auxiliary table for ready access thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 804,784 Von Eschen Nov. 14, 1905 1,079,795 Naysmith Nov. 25, 1913 1,228,953 Naysmith -1 June 5, 1917 1,364,882 Koken Jan. 11, 1921 1,520,517 Thomason Dec. 23, 1924 1,671,193 Koenigkramer May 29, 1928 1,962,220 Stukenborg June 12, 1934 1,971,624 Rusk Aug. 28, 1934 2,217,783 Bell Oct. 15, 1940 2,258,782 McKean Oct. 14, 1941 2,306,031 Anderson et al. Dec. 22, 1942 2,308,737 Bracus Jan. 19, 1943 2,571,829 Buckley Oct. 16, 1951 

